Produced by David Widger
(Unabridged)
January 1st, 1663-64.
Went to bed between 4 and 5 in the morning with my mind in good temper ofsatisfaction and slept till about 8, that many people came to speak withme. Among others one came with the best New Year's gift that ever I had,namely from Mr. Deering, with a bill of exchange drawn upon himself forthe payment of L50 to Mr. Luellin. It being for my use with a letter ofcompliment. I am not resolved what or how to do in this business, but Iconclude it is an extraordinary good new year's gift, though I do not takethe whole, or if I do then give some of it to Luellin. By and by comesCaptain Allen and his son Jowles and his wife, who continues pretty still.They would have had me set my hand to a certificate for his loyalty, and Iknow not what his ability for any employment. But I did not think it fit,but did give them a pleasing denial, and after sitting with me an hourthey went away. Several others came to me about business, and then beingto dine at my uncle Wight's I went to the Coffee-house, sending my wife byWill, and there staid talking an hour with Coll. Middleton, and others,and among other things about a very rich widow, young and handsome, of oneSir Nicholas Gold's, a merchant, lately fallen, and of great courtiersthat already look after her: her husband not dead a week yet. She isreckoned worth L80,000. Thence to my uncle Wight's, where Dr. of——-,among others, dined, and his wife, a seeming proud conceited woman, I knownot what to make of her, but the Dr's. discourse did please me very wellabout the disease of the stone, above all things extolling Turpentine,which he told me how it may be taken in pills with great ease. There wasbrought to table a hot pie made of a swan I sent them yesterday, given meby Mr. Howe, but we did not eat any of it. But my wife and I rose fromtable, pretending business, and went to the Duke's house, the first play Ihave been at these six months, according to my last vowe, and here saw theso much cried-up play of "Henry the Eighth;" which, though I went withresolution to like it, is so simple a thing made up of a great manypatches, that, besides the shows and processions in it, there is nothingin the world good or well done. Thence mightily dissatisfied back atnight to my uncle Wight's, and supped with them, but against my stomachout of the offence the sight of my aunt's hands gives me, and endingsupper with a mighty laugh, the greatest I have had these many months, atmy uncle's being out in his grace after meat, we rose and broke up, and mywife and I home and to bed, being sleepy since last night.
2nd. Up and to the office, and there sitting all the morning, and at noonto the 'Change, in my going met with Luellin and told him how I hadreceived a letter and bill for L50 from Mr. Deering, and delivered it tohim, which he told me he would receive for me. To which I consented,though professed not to desire it if he do not consider himselfsufficiently able by the serv